The Master returns (November 22, 2009)
By Rev. Steve Bagnall

Today Jesus speaks about a master returning from a trip only to find his servants sleeping. This is a parable of the Last Day, when Christ will return as Judge. Those who are sleeping are people who are unprepared for that return, those who have not been doing what He called them to do.

So the obvious question is, “Are you prepared, or are you sleeping?” Or perhaps we could rephrase that question to be, “What are you looking at?” Is your attention on the things of Christ, the way of God or the ways of the world?

Our old nature is so tricky that we can start to think forgiveness means approval, that God is responding to our confession of sins with, “Oh, that’s ok,” as though sin isn’t really a big deal.

But that’s entirely wrong. As we read in Jude we’re to “hate even the garment defiled by the flesh.” That means we should hate sin so much that we hate even the things that surround it. Even the “garments” of sin can entice us into sin itself.

Sometimes we choose television shows that includes some immorality, thinking we will ignore those parts and just focus on the rest. We make similar decisions about friends, entertainment and lots of other parts of life. We think, “There may be sin around me, but I’ll stay clean.”

But our old nature is like a powerful sin magnet, attracted to the edge, asking, “How close can I get without falling,” and then – plop! – there we are immersed in sinful thoughts and deeds! Like the servants in Jesus’ parable, we don’t mean to be caught sleeping, but we sort of slip into spiritual drowsiness.

Now, Christ says that His return can happen at any moment. If He returns right now, how will He find you? What about on Monday at 8:45? Or Friday at 11:30?

When Jesus returns, will your attention and your mind and your heart be fixed on things above, and on the good things of God in this earth, or will your attention be on the sordid sin of this world – sex without marriage, murder, cursing, violence, hatred, gossip homosexuality, selfish greed?

Your eyes – and your heart – have been drawn to sin. Lift up your eyes and behold something different, something glorious. See Christ Jesus, see Him as He will one day come, as Judge, shining in His divine glory and ready to execute damnation on all who are found sleeping, all whose hearts are fixed on this broken world’s sinful allures.

See Jesus Christ in His glory, your Righteous Judge Who sees what you have tried to hide in your heart, the sins you commit when there is no one else around. He knows what internet sites you’ve visited, he knows what television shows you’ve watched, what books you read, what juicy gossip you love. He knows and He declares it all to be damnable sin. Know that Jesus will come – at any moment, as that great and powerful Judge.

But look again and see Him as He comes to you today. Broken and bleeding, with tender and merciful eyes looking down from His cross, eyes of compassion. Look at the crucified Christ and see that He is looking at you. On the cross He knew all those sins you just remembered, and even the ones you don’t know of. Here, as He suffers for those sins He sees them, and He sees you.

He looks at you from the cross. See His eyes, feel them penetrate your soul as they did to Peter, causing him to weep over his sin. See those eyes fixed on your heart and hear Him speak to you. “Father, forgive him. Father, forgive her. This blood, My blood, is for you. Your sins, all those sins, are put on Me and I put them away. See this Jesus, the Jesus of Mercy. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfector of our faith who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame.

Dear friends, turn your eyes away from this world’s temptations, flee them, put to death your sinful desires and stay far away from them. Leave those passing pleasures and look at the merciful One, see Him on the cross. See Him forgive your sins; see Him deliver His mercy in the Body and Blood of the Sacrament.

Shake off the sleepiness that wants to drag you away from Him. Know that He forgives you, know that you are washed clean and by His blood you are fully prepared to greet Him when He comes in glory.

And look again at the returning King – the Judge. With your sin removed, He holds no threat toward you. Forgiven and renewed, see this Glorious Returning King as He comes in power. The souls of the blessed dead come with Him and at His voice their bodies are called from their resting places, alive and new and glorious and perfect. And those faithful who are alive at His return will be glorified and together we will dwell in perfection and love forever.

This is the promise of Christ to His faithful and forgiven servants – His promise to you. And this is most certainly true. Amen.